Gift ideas for the gardener in your life

There is no shortage of trowels, hoses and birdhouses out there just waiting to be wrapped up for your favorite gardener. Following is a varied selection of gift ideas, from simple to a splurge and practical to indulgent.

Zen garden

Luludi Living Art has taken the idea of a small, traditional Zen garden and expanded it by adding an air plant (Tillandsia), which requires little maintenance — no direct sun and a quick spritz of water each week. Each mini-garden creates a portable oasis for the home or office. There are several Zen garden designs that can be tailored to a person's preferences. Priced from $40 to $65. www.luludi.net

Jeffersonian rain gauge

From Conant's Vermont Collection comes a striking float-and-lever rain gauge inspired by the mechanical inventions of Thomas Jefferson. As rain fills a glass vial, the float rises and a pointer registers the rainfall amount. Made of solid brass, stainless steel, glass and wood, it stands 42 inches high and 121/2 inches wide. $154.99, www.conantcollections.com

Spring chickens

Every gardener needs waterproof boots, and these from Sloggers will put a spring in your step. Cheerful chickens bustle all over this bright yellow pair, which also have more practical features such as traction and a removable insole. Daffodil Yellow Chicken Print boots, $39.99, www.sloggers.com

Heated hoodie

Odious tasks such as working in the yard or shoveling snow are often made worse by the bulky clothes one must wear. Craftsman 's 12-volt heated hoodie gets around that problem. It's comfortable and warm — and when it gets really cold, just turn on the heat. There are four temperature settings (low, medium, high and max) and four heat zones (left and right chest, back and neck). It features an elastic waist, cuffs and a soft lining too. $179.99 (including the battery and charger). www.craftsman.com , www.sears.com

Twist and turn

Nothing could bring more style to turning the compost than the handmade aerator from Kaufmann Mercantile , created by a retired forester in Canada. Crank the hardwood handle to twist the steel coil down into the pile; then pull it out to mix the ingredients and let in oxygen to speed decomposition. Store the tool indoors. Handmade Steel Compost Aerator, $49 www.kaufmann-mercantile.com

Songbird station

Birds need to drink even in the winter. The simple lines of this 13-inch-tall Orlandi Statuary Ladom Birdbath will fit into any garden, whether it's sleekly modern, down-to-earth or formal and traditional. The birdbath is made of fiberglass, so it's lightweight and won't crack in cold weather, but it has sand and gravel cast into the finish for a natural look. $88.99, www.wayfair.com

Nature's music

The slightest breeze will provide tinkling music from this wind chime, crafted from the curling dried leaf frond of an Indonesian coconut tree. The Bent Leaf Frond wind chime from Uncommon Goods is best hung under a covered porch to protect it from the weather. $30, www.uncommongoods.com

Pruning protection

Covering the whole forearm, these handsome gloves from Gardener's Supply Co . will let a gardener dive into a thorny rosebush or other scratchy shrub. And since the Miracle Fiber rose gloves are synthetic, they can be machine-washed and dried without stiffening. $44.95, www.gardeners.com

1/5: Craftsman's 12-volt heated hoodie helps anyone who has to work outside in cold weather. There are four temperature settings (low, medium, high and max) and four heat zones (left and right chest, back and neck). $179.99 (including the battery and charger) at Craftsman.com, Sears.com and Sears stores. (Photo courtesy Craftsman/TNS)

2/5: Nothing could bring more style to turning the compost than this handmade aerator from Kaufmann Mercantile, created by a retired forester in Canada. Crank the hardwood handle to twist the steel coil down into the pile; then pull it out to mix the ingredients and let in oxygen to speed decomposition. Store the tool indoors. Handmade Steel Compost Aerator, $49 at Kaufmann-Mercantile.com. (Photo courtesy Kaufmann Mercantile/TNS)

3/5: Birds need to drink even in the winter. The simple lines of this 13-inch-tall birdbath will fit into any garden, whether it's sleekly modern, down-to-earth, or formal and traditional. The birdbath is made of fiberglass, so it's lightweight and won't crack in cold weather, but has sand and gravel cast into the finish for a natural look. Orlandi Statuary Ladom Birdbath is $88.99 at Wayfair.com. (Photo courtesy Wayfair.com/TNS)

4/5: The slightest breeze will provide tinkling music from this wind chime, crafted from the curling dried leaf frond of an Indonesian coconut tree. The chime from Uncommon Goods is best hung under a covered porch to protect it from the weather. Bent Leaf Frond Wind Chime, $30, uncommongoods.com. (Photo courtesy Uncommon Goods/TNS)

5/5: Covering the whole forearm, these handsome gloves from Gardener's Supply Co. will let a gardener really dive into a thorny rosebush or other scratchy shrub. And since they're synthetic, they can be machine-washed and -dried without stiffening. Miracle Fiber Rose Gloves, $44.95, gardeners.com. (Photo courtesy Gardener's Supply Co./TNS)